Method of mining coal



(No Model.)

P.G.FORRESTER. METHOD OF MINING GOAL.

No. 473,734. Patentd Apr. 26, 1892.

m VENTOR WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER C. FORRESTER, OF W'ILKESON, WASHINGTON.

METHOD OF MINING COAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,734, dated April26, 1892.

Application filed November 27,1891. Serial No. 413,242. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER O. FORRESTER, of Wilkeson, in the county ofPierce and State of Vashingtomhave invented a new and Improved Method ofMining Coal, Ore, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method ofmining coal, ore, and the like in a very simple, quick, and effectlvemanner without any danger whatever to the miners and without loss oflumber used in building the cuts. The improved method consists of firstformmg 111 the vein a series of vertical cuts and horizontal cuts ordrifts orscross-cuts intersecting with the said vertical cuts and thenundercutting or blasting from below the pil-. lars of material formedbetween the cuts and cross-cuts.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details andcombinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, andthen pointed out in the claims. l

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part ofthis specification, 1n which the figure is a sectional side elevation ofa coal-field mined according to my method.

In order to carry my method into effect, I form in the vein or adjacentto it a vertical shaft A, from the bottom of which extends horizontallya gangway B, and a short distance above the same is arranged anair-passage 0, opening at one end into the vertical shaft A andconnected at suitable intervals by chutes D with the gangway B. Abovethe air-passage O is formed a series of cross-cuts E, F, and G, locatedone above the other and suitable distances apart, the said cross-cutsforming air-shafts and opening into the main or vertical shaft A.

Above the air-passage O is cut into the vein of coal or ore a series ofvertical cuts H, in which is formed a partition or dividingwall I, madeof boards or other material and filled with coal, ore, or the-like, sothat air can travel up one side of the wall over the top and down theother side back into the airway or passage 0. When the cuts H areextended upward into the next air cross-cut F, then air is supplied fromthe latter, so that on further upward working of the cuts and filling upof the wallI air passes up from this cross-cut on one side of the wall Iand down on the other side, as is plainly shown in the drawing. The cutH finally extends into the uppermost cross-cut or air-passage G, afterwhich the wall I is removed and a ladder J or other means for ascendingis placed in the vertical out. When this has been accomplished, theminers undermine or blast the pillars or blocks K of coal, ore, or thelike formed between the several cuts H, the operation being continuedfrom below upward. In blasting the pillars or blocks K from underneaththe loosened material falls downward and can be readily removed throughthe chutes D into the gangway B, and from the latter to the main shaft Ato be hauled to the top of the mine.

It is understoodthat undercutting or blasting of the pillars or blocks Kcommences above the lowermost cross-cut E, the latter discharging bybeveled chutes L into the gangway-chutes D, as is plainly illustrated inthe drawing. It will be seen that in blasting or undercutting the blocksor pillars K the gases, dust, and the like arising from the blasting canreadily travel up the cuts H into the cross-cuts or air-passages F and Gto escape. When a blast is to be fired, the miner can readily ascend therespective ladder J in the nearest cut H, so as to be in a place ofsafety when the explosion takes place farther below. Thus it will beseen that the miner is not at all subjected to the obnoxious gasesarising in blasting or undercutting and can always go to a place ofsafety whenever a blast is fired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The herein-described method of mining, consistingof forming in the vein a series of vertical and horizontal intersectingcuts or shafts and then undercutting or blasting from below the pillarsor blocks formed between the said intersectingcuts, substantially asshown and described.

2. The herein-described method of mining, consisting of first forming amain vertical shaft, then a series of horizontal cuts or shafts leadingfrom the said main shaft, and then forming a series of vertical cutsintersecting rest the said cross-cuts .or shafts, so as to form blocksor pillars, substantially as shown and described.

3. The herein-described method of mining, consisting of first forming amain vertical shaft, then a series of horizontal cuts or shafts leadingfrom the said main shaft, and then forming a series of vertical cutsintersecting the said cross-cuts or shafts, so as to form blocks orpillars, and building a partition-Wall in each breast to form anair-passage leading up one side of the partition-wall and down the otherto connect with the next lowermost cross-cut or air-shaft, substantiallyas shown and described.

4. The herein-described method of mining, consisting of first forming amainvertical shaft,then extending a series of horizontal cuts orair-shafts from the said main shaft, then connecting a series ofvertical cuts to intersect with the said cross-cuts or air-shafts, andthen emptying said vertical cut, substantially as shown and described.

5. The herein-described method of mining,

consisting of first forming in the vein a main shaft, then extending agangway from the bottom of the said shaft, then forming a series ofcross-cuts or air-shafts in the vein and leading from the said mainair-shaft, and then building a series of vertical partition-wallsintersecting with the several air-shafts or cross-cuts, substantially asshown and described.

6. The herein-described method of mining, consisting of first forming inthe vein a main shaft, then extending a gangway from the bottom of thesaid shaft, then forming a series of cross-cuts or air-shafts in thevein and leading from the said main air-shaft, then building a series ofverticalpartition-Walls intersecting with the several air-shafts orcrosscuts, and then connecting the lowermost air' shaft by chutes withthe said gangway, substantially as shown and described.-

PETER O. FORRESTER.

Witnesses:

GEO. I-I. TARBELL, N. B. WHITLEY.

